WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — A Polk County Sheriff's Office deputy shot a woman armed with a knife Tuesday night.
It started around 10:30 p.m. when the deputy responded to a report of a woman at her ex-boyfriend's home threatening to kill him and destroying things in his house.
That woman was 25-year-old Lindsay Collins.
She reportedly sent texts to the ex saying "I will hunt y'all down" and "I will kill her, take her life and mine, you can watch! I don't care." She also mentioned bringing a knife.
The man walked outside and called 911.
Within seconds of the deputy arriving, Collins reportedly started running directly at the victim with her arm raised, armed with a knife.
The deputy, fearing for the safety of the man, fired one shot, hitting the 25-year-old woman. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and is stable, but in critical condition.
The victim's roommate was home at the time and saw the incident. He told detectives Collins was armed with a knife and used it to damage the man's truck. He also heard Collins threatened to kill her ex and said she chased both men with a knife.
"Domestic violence calls are one of the most dangerous we respond to," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "The suspect said she was coming to the house to kill, and that's exactly what she tried to do. Fortunately for the two men at the house, our deputy arrived and did exactly what he had to in order to protect the victim and himself."
According to PCSO, these investigations are currently underway, as per standard protocol: a criminal investigation into Collins' domestic violence and attempted murder charges, by the PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigations; an internal investigation of the shooting, by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit to ensure all protocols were followed; and a separate investigation by the State Attorney's Office, who responded to the scene and will review the PCSO investigations and documentation once they are completed.
Charges pending against Collins are Attempted 1st Degree Murder (two counts), Aggravated Assault on LEO, Armed Burglary, and Felony Criminal Mischief.
